Electricity meter



,Nov. 23, 1937. F. KURZ ELECTRICITY METER Filled Dec. 29, 1934 Patented Nov. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI'CIE ELECTRICITY METER.

Fred Kurz, Springfield, Ill., assignor to Sangamo Electric Company, Springfield, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 29, 1934,'Serial.No. 759,651

10 Claims. (01. 308159) This invention relates broadly to electricity Another object of the invention is to provide meters. More specifically, the invention has to an improved bearing of the ball type wherein a do with antifriction bearings for use inintegratthrust load ballfis interposed between upper and. ing meters of all types, and especially in meters lower bearing jewels. One of the features of this of the induction watt-hour type. Briefly, meters construction is that the ball and the upper and 5? of this type generally comprise an aluminum lower bearing jewels are spring-cushioned against meter disc fixedly secured to a spindle. Coacting shock so as to minimize the likelihood of their with this disc is a shunt connected electromagsurfaces being injured by rough handling or net and a series connected electromagnet, the severe jarring'of the meter. Another and very" torque being obtained by the interaction of the important feature of this construction is that'the disc with the magnetic fluxes from the shunt and entire assembly is self-contained in unit form, series coils. with the jewels, their mounting members, the

The general object of the invention isto proball and the cushioning spring all-enclosed within vide an improved construction of lower bearing a bearing housing or cage, and retained "therein for the spindles or" these electric meters. The against the possibility of accidental-loss or sepalower bearing carries substantially the entire ration. An important advantage of this conweight of the moving system of the meter, i. e., struction is that it minimizes the amount of hanthe weight of the spindle, the disc and the worm dling of the steel balls with the'fingers. 'It has wheel. The major load imposed on this bearbeen determined that handling the balls with the ing is the vertical thrust load of the weight of fingers promotes rusting thereof. In making rethe moving system, although some appreciable placements in constructions where the balls must radial loads are imposed on the bearing at times, be handled separately, the likelihood, of nt iparticularly when severe current loads are passnating the balls, with subsequent rusting thereof, ing through the meter. The actual bearing sur is an objectionable factor. In my improved confaces are of the jewel type, and it is important struction, after the bearing parts have been asthat these surfaces be protected against cracksembled, they remain as a self-contained unit n r t hin r marring n y w y. h a and can be handled and replaced as such without would impair their anti-friction characteristics. any separate handling of the balls.

Hence, it is important that th e earin ur- Another important advantage of this confaces be protected against injury arising from struction is that there is no'possibility of loss of r u handling of the ter during ship e the balls, the cup jewels or any other component r pp n he s m W i the Wei h f he parts in the handling, assembling and replacing m vi y m of he m r i comparatively of bearings, and the balls are always retained in small. n v r h i y severe jar or shock of their properly centered relation between the upthe instrument the inertia of this moving system per and lower cup jewels.

y be s fi n to cause ry to h rath r Further objects and advantages of the invendelicate bearing surfaces, particularly when acttion willappear from the following detailed dene dow a dly in a u stantially strai ht t u t scription when taken in connection with the line. accompanying drawing, in which:

0 n f the p pa ts f th pr s n Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, 40

invention is to provide an improved construction of such arts f an induction watt-hour meter of Spring0l1Shi0ned lower bearing for electric as are necessary to a clear understanding of my meters of the general types above described. i v tio The spring us d mounting of the bearing Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view or my imassembly, including the jeweled bearing 1 proved lower bearing, on a comparatively large faces, effectively absorbs the abnormal stresses m d incident to sudden jar or shock of the meter and Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view 01. a. prevents these abnormal forces causing any inmodified construction. jury to the actual bearing Surfaces While Referring now in detail to the drawing, 3 indisu spring-cushioned lower bearings for electric me- Gates an aluminum disc hi h i rigidly se u d ters are not broadly new, the construction of my to a hub 4, Th hub i mounted on and rigidly invention incorporates distinctive improvements secured to a spindle 5, as by means of a set screw Over prior constructions known to e which 5. Disc 3 is adapted to rotate betweena shunt movements will appear from the beq nfi connected clectromagnet 1 and a series condetailed description 0f my invention: ,nected electromagnet 8, the torque being'obtaine'd by interaction of the disc with the magnetic fluxes from the shunt and series coils. The speed of disc 3 is controlled by a permanent damping magnet l0, and spindle 5 has a worm ll cut therein for cooperation with a worm wheel [2, which wheel forms a part of the integrating train for transmitting motion of the disc 3 to the meter dials.

At its upper end, spindle 5 is pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin I3. This pin is preferably made of highly tempered steel wire and is usually of sufficiently small diameter to be slightly flexible throughout its length. As shown, one end of pin l3 extends downwardly into a bushing l4, secured in a bore 15 in the upper end of spindle 5, and at its other end, pin l3 extends into and is suitably secured in "a bearing screw Hi. This screw is adapted to be threaded into and held by some stationary part [1 of the meter, such, for example, as the meter frame or housing.-

The lower bearing for spindle 5 comprises a bearing screw [9 which is externally threaded at 20 for cooperation with internal threads 2| formed on some stationary part 22 of the meter,

such, for example, as the meter frame or housing;

This bearing screw is provided with a central longitudinal bore or cavity 23, which extends downwardly from the upper end thereof, forming part of a housing for the reception of component parts of the bearing system. These parts comprise a compression spring 24, the lower end of which seats on floor 25 of bore 23, and the upper end of which extends upwardly into a central longitudinal bore 26 of a lower bearing mounting 21. This bearing mounting is preferably reduced in diameter as indic'ated'at 28 to form an abutment shoulder 29 and on its upper surface is provided with a cup jewel 30, this jewel being preferably set into a recess in which it is secured in any preferred manner. The steel ball 3| seats on jewel .30 and is confined between this jewel and a second cup jewel 32 secured to the lower surface of an upper mounting 34 and preferably recessed therein. This upper mounting 34 is'provided with a centrally located conical bore 35, and, as shown, the lower end of spindle 5 is reduced in diameter'as indicated at 36, and is provided with a conical tip or extension 31 which is adapted to frictionally engage' in conical bore 35 of upper mounting 34. The conical bore 35 is accurately constructed with respect to conical tip or end 31 of spindle 5 so as to continually maintain upper mounting 34 accurately in line with spindle 5.

The upper bearing mounting 34 is confined within a central longitudinal bore 38 which extends upwardly from the lower end of a sleeve or housing portion Isa. The outside of this sleeve is reduced in diameter as indicated at 40, and such reduced portion is provided with external threads 4| for cooperation with internal threads 42 formed in bore 23 of bearing screw l9. On its upper surface sleeve l9a is provided with a depressed opening 43 having conical side walls 44 through which portion 31 of spindle 5 extends to engage upper bearing mounting 34. The conical side walls 44 of sleeve 19a assist in guiding conical pivot 31 of spindle 5 into upper bearing mounting 34, whereby conical portion 31 will always be certaln to drop into conical bore 35 of such mounting.

in the assembly of the construction.

The bottom edge of the sleeve or housing extension l9a forms an abutment shoulder 45 for cooperating with the abutment shoulder 29 on the lower bearing mounting 21, whereby to limit the upward spring-pressed motion of said lower bearing mounting. An internal annular flange 48 in the upper end of said housing extension forms a retaining shoulder for cooperating with a retaining shoulder 4'! on the upper end of the upper bearing mounting 34, these two shoulders being out of contact with each other during the normal operation of the meter.

The lower screw portion l9 and the upper sleeve portion [9a constitute the two separable sections of a. tubular cage or bearing housing in which all parts of the bearing assembly are retained in selfcontained or unit form. Upper bearing mounting 34 cannot move upwardly beyond the shoulder 46 of sleeve l9a, so that such sleeve will retain the .various parts of the bearing system in proper rehandled. Sufficient space is provided between V the bore of sleeve l9a and the outer surfaceof upper bearing mounting 34 so as to completely space the moving system from the sleeve i9c during normal operation of the meter. Under severe loads, upper bearing mounting 34 may come into lateral contact with sleeve l9a, although this only occurs under abnormal conditions when the effect on the meter accuracy is relatively small. The cushion spring 24 normally forces lower mounting member 2! upwardly until cup jewel 39 is disposed within bore 38 of sleeve I So and shoulder 29 of said mounting engages the lower peripheral shoulder 45 of said sleeve. ment of shoulder 29 of the lower mounting mem ber 21 against the lower shoulder 45 of the upper cage member or sleeve l9a holds the lower mounting member 21 and its bearing 35 in proper vertical alignment with the upper mounting member 34 and its bearing 32. As before remarked, the upper shoulder 41 of the upper bearing mounting 34 is normally spaced slightly from the internal retaining shoulder 46 of the sleeve member l9a, this space being indicated at 43. Preferably, said space is sufiiciently small so that even if some jar should cause the upper bearing mounting 34 to move upwardly through this space into contact with the internal retaining shoulder 46,

the upper bearing jewel 32 will not be elevated moving system, it will be apparent that spindle 5,v

together with the upper and lower mounting members 34 and 21, respectively, may be moved downwardly against the action of compression spring 24, thereby preventing any damage to the bearing surfaces. condition, compression spring 24 will move the bearing mountings and the spindle back to their normal operative positions. 7

If desired, spindle 5 may be provided with a shoulder 50, which extends outwardly therefrom as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. This shoulder is adapted to contact upper bearing housing I 9a and limit the downward movement of the spindle when the meter is subjected to abnormal shocks. Preferably, shoulder 50 is so positioned upon spindle 5 that it will contact upper bearing housing l9a before compression spring The normal engage- Upon removal of the abnormal ball3 l' between thebearing mountings'and thereby marri'ng the surfaces of the cup jewels, and which might happen if the spring 24 should'go solid under the influence of. an excessive shock to the meter.-

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, by way of example, it will be obviousthat changes may be made therein within the spirit and scope of the invention and, therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the forms herein disclosed, except insofar as it may be so limited in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. 'In combination with an electricity meter comprising a spindle, a disk secured to said spindle, means for rotating said diskand spindle, and means pivotally supporting the upper end of said spindle, of means pivotally supporting the lower end of said spindle comprising a bearing housing including upper and lower housing members, said upper housing member having its lower end reduced in diameter and secured within and forming an abutment shoulder in said lower housing member, a bearing assembly within said bearing housing comprising a lower mounting member disposed in said lower housing member and an upper mounting member disposed in said upper housing member, jewels secured to said mounting members, a ball disposed between said jewels, means confined entirely in said lower housing member and normally urging said lower mounting member upwardly with respect to said lower housing member, a shoulder formed on said lower mounting member, said latter shoulder directly engaging the abutment shoulder on said upper housing member and limiting upward movement of said lower mounting member with respect to said lower housing member, a conical portion formed on said spindle, a conical bore formed in said upper mounting member, the conical portion on said spindle being adapted to engage in the conical bore in said upper mounting member for supporting the lower end of said spindle thereon, and means formed on said upper mounting member for guiding said spindle into engagement with the bore in said upper mounting member.

2. In combination with an electricity meter comprising a spindle, a pivot carried by the lower end of said spindle, a disk secured to said spindle, means for rotating said disk and spindle, and means pivotally supporting the upper end of said spindle, of means pivotally supporting the lower end of said spindle comprising a bearing housing including upper and lower housing members secured together, said upper housing member having an opening at one end thereof, a bearing assembly within said bearing housing comprising a lower bearing mounting disposed in said lower housing member, and an upper bearing mounting disposed in said upper housing member, jewels secured to said mounting members, a ball disposed between said jewels, said pivot being normally entirely free of said bearing assembly but insertable into said upper housing member through the open end thereof and into engagement with said upper mounting member, means in said lower housing member normally urging said mounting members upwardly with respect to said housing members and said upper mounting member into engagement with said pivot, said means permitting said mounting members and said spindle to move downwardly under the influence of abnormal shocks to said meter, and a shoulder carried'by said spindle and engageable with said upper housing member for limiting the downward movement of said spindle.

3. In combination with an electricity meter comprising a spindle, a pivot carried by the lower end of said spindle, a disk secured to said spindle, means for rotating said disk and spindle, and means pivotally supporting the upper end of said spindle, of means pivotally supporting the lower end of said spindle comprising a bearing housing including upper and lower housing members secured together, said upper housing member having an opening at one end thereof, a bearing assembly within said bearing housing comprising a lower bearing mounting disposed in said lower housing member, and an upper bearing mounting disposed in said upper housing member, jewels secured to said mounting members, a ball disposed between said jewels, said pivot being normally entirely free of said bearing assembly but insertable into said upper housing member through the opening therein and into engagement with said upper mounting member, spring means in said lower housing member normally urging said mounting members upwardly with respect to said housing members and said upper mounting member into engagement with said pivot, cooperating means formed on said upper housing member and said lower mounting member for limiting upward movement of said mounting members, said spring means permitting said mounting members and said spindle to move downwardly under the influence of abnormal shocks to said meter, and a shoulder formed on said spindle and engageable with said upper housing member for limiting the downward movement of said spindle.

4. A pivotal mounting for electrical measuring instruments comprising a bearing housing including upper and lower housing members secured together, said lower housing member being adapted to be directly carried by a stationary portion of the instrument, a bearing assembly within said bearing housing comprising a lower mounting member disposed in said lower housing member and an upper mounting member disposed in said upper housing member, jewels secured to said mounting members, a ball disposed etween said jewels, means confined entirely within said lower housing member normally urging said mounting members upwardly with respect to said housing members, and means on said upper housing member directly engaging said lower mounting member for limiting upward movement of said mounting member with respect to said lower housing. member.

5. A pivotal mounting for electrical measuring instrurnents comprising a bearing housing including upper and lower housing members secured together, said lower housing member being adapted to be directly carried by a stationary portion of the instrument, a bearing assembly within said bearing housing comprising a lower mounting member disposed in said lower housing member and an upper mounting member disposed in upper housing member, jewels secured to said mounting members, a ball disposed between said jewels, means confined entirely within said lower housing member normally urging said mounting members upwardiy with respect to said housing members, a shoulder formed on said upper housing member, and a shoulder formed on said lower mounting member, said shoulders directly engaging and limiting upward movement of said lower mounting member with respect to said lower housing member.

' 6. A pivotal mounting for electrical measuring instruments comprising a bearing housing including upper and lower housing members, said lower housing member being adapted to be directly carried by a. stationary portion of theinstrument, said upper housing member having its lower end reduced in diameter and secured within and forming an abutment shoulder in said lower housing member, a bearing assembly within said bearing housing comprising upper and lower mounting members, jewels secured to said mounting members, a ball disposed between said jewels,

means confined within said lower housing member normally urging said lower mounting member upwardly with respect to said bearing housing, and means on said lower mounting member directly engaging said abutment shoulder for limiting upward movement of said lower mounting member with respect to said lower housing member.

7. A pivotal mounting for electrical measuring instruments comprising a bearing housing including upper and lower housing members, said lower housing member being adapted to be directly carried by a stationary portion of the instrument, said upper housing member having its lower end reduced in diameter and secured within and forming an abutment shoulder in said lower housing member, a bearing assembly with: in said bearing housing comprising a lower mounting member disposed in said lower housing member and an upper mounting member disposed in said upper housing member, jewels secured to said mounting members, a ball disposed between said jewels, means confined entirely within said lower housing member and normally urging said lower mounting member upwardly with respect to said bearing housing, and a shoulder formed on said lower mounting member and directly engaging the abutment shoulder on said upper housing member for limiting upward movement of said lower mounting member with respect to said lower housing member.

8. In combination with an electricity meter comprising a spindle, a conical pivot carried by the lower end of said spindle, and means pivotally supporting the upper end of said spindle, of means pivotally supporting the lower end of said spindle comprising upper and lower housing members secured together, said upper housing member having an opening therein, and said lower housing member being directly carried by a stationary portion of said meter, a bearing assembly within said bearing housing comprising a lower bearing mounting disposed in said lower housing member, and an upper bearing mounting having a conical bo-re'formed therein disposed in said upper housing member, jewels secured to said mounting members, a ball disposed between said jewels, said pivot being normally entirely free of said upper bearing mounting but insertable into said upper housing member through the open end thereof and into engagement with the conical bore in said upper bearing mounting, and means confined within said bearing housing and yieldingly urging said bearing assembly upwardly into engagement with said pivot.

9. The combination with an electricity meter comprising a frame, a rotatable spindle, and means pivotally supporting the upper end of said spindle, of a bearing assembly for pivotally supporting the lower end of said spindle comprising a housing, two jewels and an interposed ball disposed in said housing, said housing including means restraining movement of said jewels and 7 ball therefrom whereby 'said bearing assembly may be inserted into or withdrawn from the frame of the meter as a unit, and a mounting member associated with one of said jewels and confined entirely within said housing, said mounting member having a socket formed there in adapted to frictionally receive said spindle and automatically engageable or disengageable with said spindle by the mere act of inserting said bearing assembly into said frame or withdrawing it therefrom, respectively.

10. The combination with an electricity meter comprising a frame, a rotatable spindle, and means pivotally supporting the upper end of said spindle, of a bearing assembly for pivotally supporting the lower end of said spindle, comprising a housing, two jewels, and an interposed ball disposed in said housing, means confined within and yieldably supporting said jewels and ball within said housing, said housing including means restraining movement of said jewels and ball and said last named means therefrom, whereby said bearing assembly may be inserted into or withdrawn from the frame of the meter as a unit, and a mounting member associated with one of said jewels and confined entirely within said housing, said mounting member having a socket formed therein adapted to frictionally receive said spindle and automatically engageable or disengageable with said spindle by the mere act of inserting said bearing assembly into said frame or withdrawing it therefrom, respectively.

FRED KURZ. 

